The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-09
PRESERVING THE MATERIALS FOR HISTORY

thinks of writing the biography of an individual
until he has become famous, or perhaps till
he dies, and by that time it is often very diff
fcult to obtain the necessary materials. The
materials for history or biography disappear
very rapidly unless some person specially in
terested in the work makes it his business to
collect and preserve them. Sometimes the
individual himself does this--collects the ma
him in photographed form. But more often
it happens that those whose records are best
worth preserving and whose lives the world
is most anxious to read, make no preparation
whatever for the work, and are utterly careless
about preserving correspondence and other
materials. IF mans friends could know
long time in advance that he was destined to
become famous, probably it would be differ
ent. Suppose, for example, that Shakspeare's
parents or his friends, in early life, could have
soreseen the destiny awaiting him-could have
xls~n that dying he would leave behind
him name before which ali others would
pale their Intellectual fres-how careful they
would have been to preserve every record of
his personal life, his school life, the books he
read, the occupation of his boyhood and
his youthful loves and follies, his
mental development and everything relating
to his early, life and character. AS it is, the
world is in almost total ignorance on all these
points. Possibly it is better so. Perhaps
Shakspeare's great personality might suffer if
subjected to that kind Of a light. But if his
parents and his early companions and teachers
could have foreseen the fame of the man they
would very surely have preserved everything
they could concerning the boy. Somewhat
similar is the case Of Abraham Lincoln, of
whom the world never tires of hearing. Most
of his biographers have bridged over his boy
hood and early life, simply rehashing one
after another few stale incidents or doubtful
legends. How easy it would have been to
preserve a com lete record Of his early life or
biography, had those who lived with and near
him realized how valuable such material would
one day be. True, those who lived with and
near him then were mostly very illiterate peo
pie, but they were not devoid of shrewd sense
or Of appreciation of the fitness of things and
If they had known that the long-legged boy
and fle honv broad CHI oul3ored vo,,tb xropld
be President of the United States during the
most eventful period of it's history, that he
would sign the proclamation freeing four
million slaves and die the greatest martyr to
the greatest cause, save one, in human history
t<-if those plain, illiterate people could have
foreseen his destiny, they would have found
Lincoln's early life. Thanks to the jealous,
loving and exhaustive research made by his
latest biographers, Hay and Nicolay. all that
exists has been collected and preserved, but il
is comparatively meager, at best, and requires
no small amount Of padding to give it form
and substance.
communities, the collection and preservation
of materials for history is apt to be neglected
until much that is valuable has been lost OF
destroyed and that which remains is exceed
ingly difficult to get together Oblivion
works necessarily. History is made every
day, but it is also lost every DAY. Something
&c how'll ho,n mi
that has happened is momentarily being GOV
cred up. The human race in its march O
progress is ever making new tracks, but thos
1t leaves behind are quickly obliterated. TIL
materials Of history disappear very rapidly
This is the testimony of all historians and O
every person who has undertaken to colec
materials for the history of State, county o
community two or three generations old
Persons who have attempted this are aston
ished to find how little interest is taken il
preserving the most valuable records of cul
rert history and how soon they perish. Their
o0ght to be in every State and in ever
bunsy of every State an historical society, on
# whose objects should be the collection an
reservation of materials for local history.
There was meeting of gentlemen in Ne,
FORK a few days ago 10 listen to siatemen
rom Mr. B. f. Stevens, an American gentle
nan residing in London, in relation to manu-
eripts and documents concerning Americs
10 DO found in the public and private archive
u Europe. The meeting was attended by
AuIsber Of gentlemen distinguishedin iterar
md social circles The Critic says:
tFor years Mr. Stevens has devoted hi
1ais1fro hours TO the examination If tha door